Intro LabVIEW8

Introduction to LabVIEW
3-Hour Hands-On
Copyright
2005 National Instruments Corporation. All rights reserved. Under the copyright laws, this publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storing in an information retrieval system, or translating, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of National Instruments Corporation.
Trademarks
National Instruments, NI, ni.com, and LabVIEW are trademarks of National Instruments Corporation. Refer to the Terms of Use section on ni.com/legal for more information about National Instruments trademarks. Product and company names mentioned herein are trademarks or trade names of their respective companies. Members of the National Instruments Alliance Partner Program are business entities independent from National Instruments and have no agency partnership, or joint-venture relationship with National Instruments.
Patents
For patents covering National Instruments products, refer to the appropriate location: HelpPatents in your software, the patents.txt file on your CD, or ni.com/patents.
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Contents
Introduction Virtual Instrumentation .................................................................................................................................3 Section ILabVIEW Environment A. Getting Data into Your Computer Data Acquisition Devices...............................................................................................................10 NI-DAQ..........................................................................................................................................12 Simulated Data Acquisition ...........................................................................................................14 Sound Card.....................................................................................................................................16 B. LabVIEW Environment Front Panel/Block Diagram............................................................................................................18 Toolbar/Tools Palette .....................................................................................................................21 C. Components of a LabVIEW Application Creating a VI ..................................................................................................................................24 Data Flow Execution......................................................................................................................25 Debugging Techniques...................................................................................................................26 D. Additional Help Context Help ..................................................................................................................................32 Tips for Working in LabVIEW ......................................................................................................33 Section IIElements of Typical Programs A. Loops While Loop.....................................................................................................................................36 For Loop.........................................................................................................................................36 B. Functions and SubVIs Types of Functions.........................................................................................................................38 Searching the Functions Palette .....................................................................................................40 Creating Custom SubVIs................................................................................................................41 C. Decision Making and File I/O Case Structure ................................................................................................................................47 Select (If Statement).......................................................................................................................47 File I/O ...........................................................................................................................................48 Section IIIPresenting Your Results A. Displaying Data on the Front Panel Controls and Indicators ..................................................................................................................52 Graphs and Charts ..........................................................................................................................53 Arrays.............................................................................................................................................55
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Introduction to LabVIEW Hands-On
Loop Timing...................................................................................................................................58 B. Signal Processing Textual Math ..................................................................................................................................61 MathScript......................................................................................................................................62 Section IVAdvanced Data Flow Topics (Optional) A. Additional Data Types Clusters...........................................................................................................................................70 Waveforms .....................................................................................................................................73 B. Data Flow Constructs Shift Register..................................................................................................................................74 Local Variables ..............................................................................................................................75 C. Large Application development Navigator Window .........................................................................................................................76 LabVIEW Project...........................................................................................................................77 Additional Help Resources..........................................................................................................................78 LabVIEW Certification ...............................................................................................................................79 Electronics Workbench and Multisim.........................................................................................................80 Multisim Integrated with LabVIEW ...........................................................................................................81 Exercise Solutions .......................................................................................................................................83 Exercises Exercise 1..............................................................................................................................................12 Exercise 2..............................................................................................................................................27 Exercise 3.1...........................................................................................................................................43 Exercise 3.2...........................................................................................................................................45 Exercise 3.3...........................................................................................................................................49 Exercise 4.1...........................................................................................................................................60 Exercise 4.2...........................................................................................................................................64 Exercise 5..............................................................................................................................................68
Find more resources online: ni.com/academic
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Introduction to LabVIEW
3-Hour Hands-On
Course Goals
Become comfortable with the LabVIEW environment and data flow execution Ability to use LabVIEW to solve problems LabVIEW Concepts
Acquiring, saving and loading data Find and use math and complex analysis functions Work with data types, such as arrays and clusters Displaying and printing results
This is a list of the objectives of the course. This course prepares you to do the following: Use LabVIEW to create applications. Understand front panels, block diagrams, and icons and connector panes. Use built-in LabVIEW functions. Create and save programs in LabVIEW so you can use them as subroutines. Create applications that use plug-in DAQ devices. Programming theory Every built-in LabVIEW function or object Analog-to-digital (A/D) theory
This course does not describe any of the following:
NI does provide free reference materials on the above topics on ni.com. The LabVIEW Help is also very helpful: LabVIEWHelpSearch the LabVIEW Help
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The Virtual Instrumentation Approach
Virtual Instrumentation For more than 25 years, National Instruments has revolutionized the way engineers and scientists in industry, government, and academia approach measurement and automation. Leveraging PCs and commercial technologies, virtual instrumentation increases productivity and lowers costs for test, control, and design applications through easy-to-integrate software, such as NI LabVIEW, and modular measurement and control hardware for PXI, PCI, USB, and Ethernet. With virtual instrumentation, engineers use graphical programming software to create user-defined solutions that meet their specific needs, which is a great alternative to proprietary, fixed functionality traditional instruments. Additionally, virtual instrumentation capitalizes on the ever-increasing performance of personal computers. For example, in test, measurement, and control, engineers have used virtual instrumentation to downsize automated test equipment (ATE) while experiencing up to a 10 times increase in productivity gains at a fraction of the cost of traditional instrument solutions. Last year 25,000 companies in 90 countries invested in more than 6 million virtual instrumentation channels from National Instruments.
LabVIEW Graphical Development System

Graphical Programming Environment Compile code for multiple OS and devices Useful in a broad range of applications
National Instruments LabVIEW is an industry-leading software tool for designing test, measurement, and control systems. Since its introduction in 1986, engineers and scientists worldwide who have relied on NI LabVIEW graphical development for projects throughout the product design cycle have gained improved quality, shorter time to market, and greater engineering and manufacturing efficiency. By using the integrated LabVIEW environment to interface with real-world signals, analyze data for meaningful information, and share results, you can boost productivity throughout your organization. Because LabVIEW has the flexibility of a programming language combined with built-in tools designed specifically for test, measurement, and control, you can create applications that range from simple temperature monitoring to sophisticated simulation and control systems. No matter what your project is, LabVIEW has the tools necessary to make you successful quickly.
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Virtual Instrumentation Applications

Design Signal and Image Processing Embedded System Programming
(PC, DSP, FPGA, Microcontroller)
A single graphical development platform
Simulation and Prototyping Design And more Control Automatic Controls and Dynamic Systems Mechatronics and Robotics And more Measurements Circuits and Electronics Measurements and Instrumentation And more
Prototype
Deploy
Virtual Instrumentation Applications Virtual instrumentation is applicable in many different types of applications, starting from design to prototyping and deployment. The LabVIEW platform provides specific tools and models to solve specific applications ranging from designing signal processing algorithms to making voltage measurements and can target any number of platforms from the desktop to embedded devices with an intuitive, powerful graphical paradigm. With version 8, LabVIEW scales from design and development on PCs to several embedded targets from ruggedized toaster size prototypes to embedded systems on chips. LabVIEW streamlines system design with a single graphical development platform. In doing so, LabVIEW encompasses better management of distributed, networked systems because as the targets for LabVIEW grow varied and embedded, you will need to be able to more easily distribute and communicate between various LabVIEW code pieces in your system.
The NI Approach Integrated Hardware Platforms
PXI Modular Instrumentation
Desktop PC
Laptop PC
PDA
High-Speed High-Resolution Multifunction Dynamic Instrument Digitizers and DMMs Data Acquisition Signal Acquisition Control Digitizers
Digital I/O
Counter/ Timers
Machine Vision
Motion Control
Distributed I/O and Embedded Control
Signal Conditioning and Switching
Unit Under Test
Integrated Hardware Platforms A virtual instrument consists of an industry-standard computer or workstation equipped with powerful application software, cost-effective hardware such as plug-in boards, and driver software, which together perform the functions of traditional instruments. Virtual instruments represent a fundamental shift from traditional hardware-centered instrumentation systems to software-centered systems that exploit the computing power, productivity, display, and connectivity capabilities of popular desktop computers and workstations. Although the PC and integrated circuit technology have experienced significant advances in the last two decades, software truly offers the flexibility to build on this powerful hardware foundation to create virtual instruments, providing better ways to innovate and significantly reduce cost. With virtual instruments, engineers and scientists build measurement and automation systems that suit their needs exactly (user-defined) instead of being limited by traditional fixed-function instruments (vendor-defined).
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Section I LabVIEW Environment

A. Getting Data into your Computer
Data Acquisition Devices
NI-DAQ Simulated Data Acquisition Sound Card
B. LabVIEW Environment
Front Panel / Block Diagram Toolbar /Tools Palette
C. Components of a LabVIEW Application

Creating a VI Data Flow Execution
D. Additional Help
Finding Functions Tips for Working in LabVIEW
A. Setting Up Your Hardware

Data Acquisition Device (DAQ)
Actual USB, PCI, or PXI Device Configured in MAX
Track A
Simulated Data Acquisition Device (DAQ)

Software simulated at the driver level Configured in MAX
Track B
Sound Card
Track C
Built into most computers
This LabVIEW course is designed for audiences with or without access to National Instruments hardware. Each exercise is divided into three tracks, A, B, and C: Track A is designed to be used with hardware supported by the National Instruments DAQmx driver. This includes most USB, PCI, and PXI data acquisition devices with analog input. Some signal conditioning and excitation is required to use a microphone with a DAQ device. (Some sensors, like microphones, require external power to work (excitation)). Track B is designed to be used with no hardware. Hardware can be simulated with the NI-DAQmx Driver Version 7.5 and newer. A simulated NI-DAQmx device is a replica of a device created using the NI-DAQmx Simulated Device option in the Create New menu of MAX for the purpose of operating a function or program without hardware. An NI-DAQmx simulated device behaves similar to a real device. Its driver is loaded, and programs using it are fully verified. Track C is designed to be used with a standard sound card and microphone. LabVIEW includes simple VIs for analog input and analog output using the soundcard built into many PCs. (This is very convenient for laptops because the soundcard and microphone are usually already built-in.)
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Setting-Up Your Hardware for Your Selected Track

Track A NI Data Acqusion with Microphone: USB-6009 with Microphone & LED
Suggested Hardware:
Qty
1 1 1 1 1
Part Number
779321-22 270-092
Description
Low-cost USB DAQ Electret Microphone 100 Ohm Resistor 220 Ohm Resistor Light Emitting Diode (LED)
Supplier
National Instruments RadioShack RadioShack RadioShack RadioShack
276-307
The following schematic was drawn with Multisim, a widely used SPICE schematic capture and simulation tool. Visit http://www.electronicsworkbench.com for more info.
Track B Simulated NI Data Acqusion: NI-DAQ Software version 8.0 or newer Track C Third-party Soundcard: Soundcard and Microphone
Suggested Hardware:
Qty
1
Part Number
Description
Standard Plug-in PC Microphone*
Supplier
RadioShack
* Laptops often have a built-in microphone (no plug-in microphone is required)

National Instruments Corporation 9 Introduction to LabVIEW Hands-On
What type of device should I use?

Sound Card*
AI Bandwidth Accuracy Portable AI Channels AO Channels AC or DC Triggering Calibrated
NI USB DAQ 10200 KS/s 1216 bit x 816 12 AC/DC x x
NI PCI DAQ 250 K1.2 Ms/s 1418 bit 1680 24 AC/DC x x
Instruments*
20kS/s2 GS/s 1224 bit some 2 0 AC/DC x x
844 KS/s 1216 bit x 2 2 AC
* The above table may not be representative of all device variations that exist in each category
What type of device should I use? There are many types of data acquisition and control devices on the market. A few have been highlighted above. The trade-off usually falls between sampling rate (samples/second), resolution (bits), number of channels, and data transfer rate (usually limited by bus type: USB, PCI, PXI, etc.). Multifunction DAQ (data acqusion) devices are ideal because they can be used in a wide range of applications. USB-6008 & USB-6009 Low-Cost USB DAQ The National Instruments USB-6009 provides basic data acquisition functionality for applications such as simple data logging, portable measurements, and academic lab experiments. The NI USB-6008 and NI USB-6009 are ideal for students. Create your own measurement application by programming the NI USB-6009 using LabVIEW and NI-DAQmx driver software for Windows. For Mac OS X and Linux users, download and use the NI-DAQmx Base driver. NI USB-6009 Specifications: Eight 14-bit analog inputs 12 digital I/O lines 2 analog outputs 1 counter
http://www.ni.com/daq/
Introduction to LabVIEW Hands-On 10 ni.com
What is MAX?
MAX stands for Measurement & Automation Explorer. MAX configures and organizes all your National Instruments DAQ, PCI/PXI instruments, GPIB, IMAQ, IVI, Motion, VISA, and VXI devices. Used for configuring and testing devices.
Icon Found on Windows Desktop
The next level of software we are concerned with is called Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX). MAX is a software interface that gives you access to all of your National Instruments DAQ, GPIB, IMAQ, IVI, Motion, VISA, and VXI devices. The shortcut to MAX will be placed on your desktop after installation. A picture of the icon is shown above. MAX is mainly used to configure and test your National Instruments hardware, but it does offer other functionality such as checking to see if you have the latest version of NI-DAQ installed. When you run an application using NI-DAQmx, the software reads the MAX configuration to determine the devices you have configured. Therefore, you must configure DAQ devices first with MAX. The functionality of MAX is broken into seven categories: Data Neighborhood Devices and Interfaces IVI Instruments Scales Historical Data Software VI Logger Tasks For this course, we will focus on Data Neighborhood, Devices and Interfaces, Scales, and Software. We will now step through each one of these categories and learn about the functionality each one offers.
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Exercise 1 Testing Your Device (Track A)

In this exercise you will use Measurement and Automation Explorer (MAX) to test your NI USB-6009 DAQ device. 1. Launch MAX by double-clicking the icon on the desktop or by selecting StartProgramsNational InstrumentsMeasurement & Automation. 2. Expand the Devices and Interfaces section to view the installed National Instruments devices. MAX displays the National Instruments hardware and software in the computer. 3. Expand the NI-DAQmx Devices section to view the installed hardware that is compatible with NI-DAQmx. The device number appears in quotes following the device name. The data acquisition VIs use this device number to determine which device performs DAQ operations. You will see your hardware listed as NI USB6009: Dev1. 4. Perform a self-test on the device by right-clicking it in the configuration tree and choosing Self-Test or clicking Self-Test along the top of the window. This tests the system resources assigned to the device. The device should pass the test because it is already configured. 5. Check the pinout for your device. Right-click the device in the configuration tree and select Device Pinouts or click Device Pinouts along the top of the center window. 6. Open the test panels. Right-click the device in the configuration tree and select Test Panels or click Test Panels along the top of the center window. The test panels allow you to test the available functionality of your device, analog input/output, digital input/output, and counter input/output without doing any programming. 7. On the Analog Input tab of the test panels, change Mode to Continuous and Rate to 10,000 Hz. Click Start and hum or whistle into your microphone to observe the signal that is plotted. Click Finish when you are done. 8. On the Digital I/O tab notice that initially the port is configured to be all input. Observe under Select State the LEDs that represent the state of the input lines. Click the All Output button under Select Direction. Notice you now have switches under Select State to specify the output state of the different lines. Toggle line 0 and watch the LED light up. Click Close to close the test panels. 9. Close MAX.
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(End of Exercise)
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Exercise 1 Setting Up Your Device (Track B) In this exercise you will use Measurement and Automation Explorer (MAX) to configure a simulated DAQ device. 1. Launch MAX by double-clicking the icon on the desktop or by selecting StartProgramsNational InstrumentsMeasurement & Automation. 2. Expand the Devices and Interfaces section to view the installed National Instruments devices. MAX displays the National Instruments hardware and software in the computer. The device number appears in quotes following the device name. The data acquisition VIs use this device number to determine which device performs DAQ operations. 3. Create a simulated DAQ device for use later in this course. Simulated devices are a powerful tool for development without having hardware physically installed in your computer. Right-click Devices and Interfaces and select Create NewNIDAQmx Simulated Device. Click Finish. 4. Expand the M Series DAQ section. Select PCI-6220 or any other PCI device of your choice. Click OK. 5. The NI-DAQmx Devices folder will expand and you will see a new entry for PCI6220: Dev1. You have now created a simulated device! 6. Perform a self-test on the device by right-clicking it in the configuration tree and choosing Self-Test or clicking Self-Test along the top of the window. This tests the system resources assigned to the device. The device should pass the test because it is already configured. 7. Check the pinout for your device. Right-click the device in the configuration tree and select Device Pinouts or click Device Pinouts along the top of the center window. 8. Open the test panels. Right-click the device in the configuration tree and select Test Panels or click Test Panels along the top of the center window. The test panels allow you to test the available functionality of your device, analog input/output, digital input/output, and counter input/output without doing any programming. 9. On the Analog Input tab of the test panels, change Mode to Continuous. Click Start and observe the signal that is plotted. Click Stop when you are done.
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10. On the Digital I/O tab notice that initially the port is configured to be all input. Observe under Select State the LEDs that represent the state of the input lines. Click the All Output button under Select Direction. Notice you now have switches under Select State to specify the output state of the different lines. Click Close to close the test panels. 11. Close MAX.
(End of Exercise)
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Exercise 1 Setting Up Your Device (Track C) In this exercise, you will use Windows utilities to verify your sound card and prepare it for use with a microphone. 1. Prepare your microphone for use. Double-click the volume control icon on the task bar to open up the configuration window. The sound configuration window can also be found from the Windows Control Panel: Start MenuControl PanelSounds and Audio DevicesAdvanced. 2. If you do not see a microphone section, go to OptionsPropertiesRecording and place a checkmark in the box next to Microphone. This will display the Microphone volume control. Click OK. 3. Uncheck the Mute box if it is not already unchecked. Make sure that the volume is turned up.
Uncheck Mute
4. Close the volume control configuration window. 5. Open the Sound Recorder by selecting StartProgramsAccessoriesEntertainmentSound Recorder. 6. Click the record button and speak into your microphone. Notice how the sound signal is displayed in the Sound Recorder. 7. Click stop and close the Sound Recorder without saving changes when you are finished.
(End of Exercise)
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Open and Run LabVIEW

StartAll ProgramsNational Instruments LabVIEW 8.0
Startup Screen:
Start from a Blank VI:
NewBlank VI
or
Start from an Example:
ExamplesFind Examples
LabVIEW LabVIEW is a graphical programming language that uses icons instead of lines of text to create applications. In contrast to text-based programming languages, where instructions determine program execution, LabVIEW uses dataflow programming, where the flow of data determines execution order. You can purchase several add-on software toolkits for developing specialized applications. All the toolkits integrate seamlessly in LabVIEW. Refer to the National Instruments Web site for more information about these toolkits. LabVIEW also includes several wizards to help you quickly configure your DAQ devices and computer-based instruments and build applications. LabVIEW Example Finder LabVIEW includes hundreds of example VIs you can use and incorporate into VIs that you create. In addition to the example VIs that ship with LabVIEW, you also can access hundreds of example VIs on the NI Developer Zone (zone.ni.com). You can modify an example VI to fit an application, or you can copy and paste from one or more examples into a VI that you create.
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LabVIEW Programs Are Called Virtual Instruments (VIs)

Each VI has 2 Windows Front Panel User Interface (UI)
Controls = Inputs Indicators = Outputs
Block Diagram Graphical Code

Data travels on wires from controls through functions to indicators Blocks execute by Dataflow
LabVIEW programs are called virtual instruments (VIs). Controls are inputs and indicators are outputs. Each VI contains three main parts: Front Panel How the user interacts with the VI. Block Diagram The code that controls the program. Icon/Connector Means of connecting a VI to other VIs. In LabVIEW, you build a user interface by using a set of tools and objects. The user interface is known as the front panel. You then add code using graphical representations of functions to control the front panel objects. The block diagram contains this code. In some ways, the block diagram resembles a flowchart. Users interact with the Front Panel when the program is running. Users can control the program, change inputs, and see data updated in real time. Controls are used for inputs such as, adjusting a slide control to set an alarm value, turning a switch on or off, or to stop a program. Indicators are used as outputs. Thermometers, lights, and other indicators display output values from the program. These may include data, program states, and other information. Every front panel control or indicator has a corresponding terminal on the block diagram. When a VI is run, values from controls flow through the block diagram, where they are used in the functions on the diagram, and the results are passed into other functions or indicators through wires.
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Controls Palette (Place items on the Front Panel Window) (Controls & Indicators)
Control: Numeric Customize Palette View
Indicator: Numeric Slide
Use the Controls palette to place controls and indicators on the front panel. The Controls palette is available only on the front panel. To view the palette, select WindowShow Controls Palette. You also can display the Controls palette by rightclicking an open area on the front panel. Tack down the Controls palette by clicking the pushpin on the top left corner of the palette.
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Functions (and Structures) Palette

(Place items on the Block Diagram Window)
Structure: While Loop
Use the Functions palette to build the block diagram. The Functions palette is available only on the block diagram. To view the palette, select WindowShow Functions Palette. You also can display the Functions palette by right-clicking an open area on the block diagram. Tack down the Functions palette by clicking the pushpin on the top left corner of the palette.
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Tools Palette
Recommended: Automatic Selection Tool Tools to operate and modify both front panel and block diagram objects
Automatic Selection Tool Automatically chooses among the following tools: Operating Tool Positioning/Resizing Tool Labeling Tool Wiring Tool
If automatic tool selection is enabled and you move the cursor over objects on the front panel or block diagram, LabVIEW automatically selects the corresponding tool from the Tools palette. Toggle automatic tool selection by clicking the Automatic Tool Selection button in the Tools palette. Use the Operating tool to change the values of a control or select the text within a control. Use the Positioning tool to select, move, or resize objects. The Positioning tool changes shape when it moves over a corner of a resizable object. Use the Labeling tool to edit text and create free labels. The Labeling tool changes to a cursor when you create free labels. Use the Wiring tool to wire objects together on the block diagram. Other important tools:
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Status Toolbar
Run Button Continuous Run Button Abort Execution
Additional Buttons on the Diagram Toolbar

Execution Highlighting Button Retain Wire Values Button Step Function Buttons
Click the Run button to run the VI. While the VI runs, the Run button appears with a black arrow if the VI is a top-level VI, meaning it has no callers and therefore is not a subVI. Click the Continuous Run button to run the VI until you abort or pause it. You also can click the button again to disable continuous running. While the VI runs, the Abort Execution button appears. Click this button to stop the VI immediately. Note: Avoid using the Abort Execution button to stop a VI. Either let the VI complete its data flow or design a method to stop the VI programmatically. By doing so, the VI is at a known state. For example, place a button on the front panel that stops the VI when you click it. Click the Pause button to pause a running VI. When you click the Pause button, LabVIEW highlights on the block diagram the location where you paused execution. Click the Pause button again to continue running the VI. Select the Text Settings pull-down menu to change the font settings for the VI, including size, style, and color. Select the Align Objects pull-down menu to align objects along axes, including vertical, top edge, left, and so on. Select the Distribute Objects pull-down menu to space objects evenly, including gaps, compression, and so on. Select the Resize Objects pull-down menu to change the width and height of front panel objects.
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Select the Reorder pull-down menu when you have objects that overlap each other and you want to define which one is in front or back of another. Select one of the objects with the Positioning tool and then select from Move Forward, Move Backward, Move To Front, and Move To Back. Click the Highlight Execution button to see the flow of data through the block diagram. Click the button again to disable execution highlighting. Click Retain Wire Values button to save the wire values at each point in the flow of execution so that when you place a probe on a wire, you can immediately obtain the most recent value of the data that passed through the wire. Click the Step Into button to single-step into a loop, subVI, and so on. Singlestepping through a VI steps through the VI node to node. Each node blinks to denote when it is ready to execute. By stepping into the node, you are ready to single-step inside the node. Click the Step Over button to step over a loop, subVI, and so on. By stepping over the node, you execute the node without single-stepping through the node. Click the Step Out button to step out of a loop, subVI, and so on. By stepping out of a node, you complete single-stepping through the node and go to the next node.
Note: The following items only appear on the block diagram toolbar.
Additional Tools:
Retain Wire Values
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Demonstration 1: Creating a VI
Front Panel Window
Graph Indicator
Block Diagram Window
Output Terminal
Boolean Control
Input Terminals
When you create an object on the Front Panel, a terminal will be created on the Block Diagram. These terminals give you access to the Front Panel objects from the Block Diagram code. Each terminal contains useful information about the Front Panel object it corresponds to. For example, the color and symbols provide information about the data type. For example: The dynamic data type is a polymorphic data type represented by dark blue terminals. Boolean terminals are green with TF lettering. In general, blue terminals should wire to blue terminals, green to green, and so on. This is not a hard-and-fast rule; LabVIEW will allow a user to connect a blue terminal (dynamic data) to an orange terminal (fractional value), for example. But in most cases, look for a match in colors. Controls have an arrow on the right side and have a thick border. Indicators have an arrow on the left and a thin border. Logic rules apply to wiring in LabVIEW: Each wire must have one (but only one) source (or control), and each wire may have multiple destinations (or indicators).
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Dataflow Programming
Block diagram execution
Dependent on the flow of data Block diagram does NOT execute left to right
Node executes when data is available to ALL input terminals Nodes supply data to all output terminals when done
LabVIEW follows a dataflow model for running VIs. A block diagram node executes when all its inputs are available. When a node completes execution, it supplies data to its output terminals and passes the output data to the next node in the dataflow path. Visual Basic, C++, JAVA, and most other text-based programming languages follow a control flow model of program execution. In control flow, the sequential order of program elements determines the execution order of a program. Consider the block diagram above. It adds two numbers and then multiplies by 2 from the result of the addition. In this case, the block diagram executes from left to right, not because the objects are placed in that order, but because one of the inputs of the Multiply function is not valid until the Add function has finished executing and passed the data to the Multiply function. Remember that a node executes only when data are available at all of its input terminals, and it supplies data to its output terminals only when it finishes execution. In the second piece of code, the Simulate Signal Express VI receives input from the controls and passes its result to the Graph. You may consider the add-multiply and the simulate signal code to co-exist on the same block diagram in parallel. This means that they will both begin executing at the same time and run independent of one another. If the computer running this code had multiple processors, these two pieces of code could run independent of one another (each on its own processor) without any additional coding.
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Debugging Techniques
Finding Errors
Click on broken Run button. Window showing error appears.
Execution Highlighting
Click on Execution Highlighting button; data flow is animated using bubbles. Values are displayed on wires.
Probes
Right-click on wire to display probe and it shows data as it flows through wire segment. You can also select Probe tool from Tools palette and click on wire.
When your VI is not executable, a broken arrow is displayed in the Run button in the palette. Finding Errors: To list errors, click on the broken arrow. To locate the bad object, click on the error message. Execution Highlighting: Animates the diagram and traces the flow of the data, allowing you to view intermediate values. Click on the light bulb on the toolbar. Probe: Used to view values in arrays and clusters. Click on wires with the Probe tool or right-click on the wire to set probes. Retain Wire Values: Used in conjunction with probes to view the values from the last iteration of the program. Breakpoint: Set pauses at different locations on the diagram. Click on wires or objects with the Breakpoint tool to set breakpoints.
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Exercise 2 Acquiring a Signal with DAQ (Track A) Note: Before beginning this exercise, copy the Exercises and Solutions Folders to the desktop of your computer. Complete the following steps to create a VI that acquires data continuously from your DAQ device. 1. Launch LabVIEW. 2. In the Getting Started window, click the New or VI from Template link to display the New dialog box. 3. Open a data acquisition template. From the Create New list, select VIFrom TemplateDAQData Acquisition with NI-DAQmx.vi and click OK. 4. Display the block diagram by clicking it or by selecting WindowShow Block Diagram. Read the instructions written there about how to complete the program. 5. Double-click the DAQ Assistant to launch the configuration wizard. 6. Configure an analog input operation. a. Choose Analog InputVoltage. b. Choose Dev1 (USB-6009)ai0 to acquire data on analog input channel 0 and click Finish. c. In the next window you define parameters of your analog input operation. To choose an input range that works well with your microphone, on the settings tab enter 2 Volts for the maximum and 2 Volts for the minimum. On the task timing tab, choose Continuous for the acquisition mode and enter 10000 for the rate. Leave all other choices set to their default values. Click OK to exit the wizard. 7. Place the Filter Express VI to the right of the DAQ Assistant on the block diagram. From the functions palette, select ExpressSignal AnalysisFilter and place it on the block diagram inside the while loop. When you bring up the functions palette, press the small push pin in the upper left hand corner of the palette. This will tack down the palette so that it doesnt disappear. This step will be omitted in the following exercises, but should be repeated. In the configuration window under Filtering Type, choose Highpass. Under Cutoff Frequency, use a value of 300 Hz. Click OK.
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8. Make the following connections on the block diagram by hovering your mouse over the terminal so that it becomes the wiring tool and clicking once on each of the terminals you wish to connect: a. Connect the Data output terminal of the DAQ Assistant VI to the Signal input of the Filter VI. b. Create a graph indicator for the filtered signal by right-clicking on the Filtered Signal output terminal and choose CreateGraph Indicator. 9. Return to the front panel by selecting WindowShow Front Panel or by pressing <Ctrl+E>. 10. Run your program by clicking the run button. Hum or whistle into the microphone to observe the changing voltage on the graph. 11. Click stop once you are finished. 12. Save the VI as Exercise 2 Acquire.vi in your Exercises folder and close it. Note: The solution to this exercise is printed in the back of this manual.
Tip: You can place the DAQ Assistant on your block diagram from the Functions Palette. Rightclick the block diagram to open the Functions Palette and go to ExpressInput to find it.
(End of Exercise)
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Exercise 2 Acquiring a Signal with DAQ (Track B) Note: Before beginning this exercise, copy the Exercises and Solutions Folders to the desktop of your computer. Complete the following steps to create a VI that acquires data continuously from your simulated DAQ device. 1. Launch LabVIEW. 2. In the Getting Started window, click the New or VI from Template link to display the New dialog box. 3. Open a data acquisition template. From the Create New list, select VIFrom TemplateDAQData Acquisition with NI-DAQmx.vi and click OK. 4. Display the block diagram by clicking it or by selecting WindowShow Block Diagram. Read the instructions written there about how to complete the program. 5. Double-click the DAQ Assistant to launch the configuration wizard. 6. Configure an analog input operation. a. Choose Analog InputVoltage. b. Choose Dev1 (PCI-6220)ai0 to acquire data on analog input channel 0 and click Finish. c. In the next window you define parameters of your analog input operation. On the task timing tab, choose Continuous for the acquisition mode, enter 1000 for samples to read, and 10000 for the rate. Leave all other choices set to their default values. Click OK to exit the wizard. 7. On the block diagram, right-click the black arrow to the right of where it says data. Choose CreateGraph Indicator from the right-click menu. 8. Return to the front panel by selecting WindowShow Front Panel or by pressing <Ctrl+E>. 9. Run your program by clicking the run button. Observe the simulated sine wave on the graph. 10. Click stop once you are finished. 11. Save the VI as Exercise 2 Acquire.vi in the Exercises folder. Close the VI. Notes: The solution to this exercise is printed in the back of this manual. You can place the DAQ Assistant on your block diagram from the Functions Palette. Right-click the block diagram to open the Functions Palette and go to ExpressInput to find it. When you bring up the functions palette, press the small push pin in the upper left hand corner of the palette. This will tack down the palette so that it doesnt disappear. This step will be omitted in the following exercises, but should be repeated.
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(End of Exercise)
Exercise 2 Acquiring a Signal with the Sound Card (Track C) Note: Before beginning this exercise, copy the Exercises and Solutions Folders to the desktop of your computer. Complete the following steps to create a VI that acquires data from your sound card. 1. Launch LabVIEW. 2. In the Getting Started window, click the Blank VI link. 3. Display the block diagram by pressing <Ctrl+E> or selecting WindowShow Block Diagram. 4. Place the Acquire Sound Express VI on the block diagram. Right-click to open the functions palette and select ExpressInputAcquire Sound. Place the Express VI on the block diagram. 5. In the configuration window under #Channels, select 1 from the drop-down list and click OK. 6. Place the Filter Express VI to the right of the Acquire Signal VI on the block diagram. From the functions palette, select ExpressSignal AnalysisFilter and place it on the block diagram. In the configuration window under Filtering Type, choose Highpass. Under Cutoff Frequency, use a value of 300 Hz. Click OK. 7. Make the following connections on the block diagram by hovering your mouse over the terminal so that it becomes the wiring tool and clicking once on each of the terminals you wish to connect: a. Connect the Data output terminal of the Acquire Signal VI to the Signal input of the Filter VI. b. Create a graph indicator for the filtered signal by right-clicking on the Filtered Signal output terminal and choose CreateGraph Indicator. 8. Return to the front panel by pressing <Ctrl+E> or WindowShow Front Panel. 9. Run your program by clicking the run button. Hum or whistle into your microphone and observe the data you acquire from your sound card. 10. Save the VI as Exercise 2 Acquire.vi in the Exercises folder. 11. Close the VI. Note: The solution to this exercise is printed in the back of this manual.
(End of Exercise)
Context Help Window

HelpShow Context Help, press the <Ctrl+H> keys Hover cursor over object to update window Additional Help
Right-Click on the VI icon and choose Help, or Choose Detailed Help. on the context help window
The Context Help window displays basic information about LabVIEW objects when you move the cursor over each object. Objects with context help information include VIs, functions, constants, structures, palettes, properties, methods, events, and dialog box components. To display the Context Help window, select HelpShow Context Help, press the <Ctrl+H> keys, or press the Show Context Help Window button in the toolbar Connections displayed in Context Help: Required bold Recommended normal Optional dimmed Additional Help VI, Function, & How-To Help is also available. Help VI, Function, & How-To Help Right-click the VI icon and choose Help, or Choose Detailed Help. on the context help window. LabVIEW Help reference style help HelpSearch the LabVIEW Help
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Tips for Working in LabVIEW

Keystroke Shortcuts
<Ctrl+H> Activate/Deactivate Context Help Window <Ctrl+B> Remove Broken Wires From Block Diagram <Ctrl+E> Toggle Between Front Panel and Block Diagram <Ctrl+Z> Undo (Also in Edit Menu)
ToolsOptions Set Preferences in LabVIEW VI PropertiesConfigure VI Appearance, Documentation, etc.
LabVIEW has many keystroke shortcuts that make working easier. The most common shortcuts are listed above. While the Automatic Selection Tool is great for choosing the tool you would like to use in LabVIEW, there are sometimes cases when you want manual control. Once the Automatic Selection Tool is turned off, use the Tab key to toggle between the four most common tools (Operate Value, Position/Size/Select, Edit Text, Set Color on Front Panel and Operate Value, Position/Size/Select, Edit Text, Connect Wire on Block Diagram). Once you are finished with the tool you choose, you can press <Shift+Tab> to turn the Automatic Selection Tool back on. In the ToolsOptions dialog, there are many configurable options for customizing your Front Panel, Block Diagram, Colors, Printing, and much more. Similar to the LabVIEW Options, you can configure VI specific properties by going to FileVI Properties There you can document the VI, change the appearance of the window, and customize it in several other ways.
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Section II Elements of Typical Programs

A. Loops
While Loop For Loop
B. Functions and SubVIs

Types of Functions Creating Custom Functions (SubVI) Functions Palette & Searching
C. Decision Making and File IO

Case Structure Select (simple If statement) File I/O
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Loops
While Loops
i terminal counts iteration Always runs at least once Runs until stop condition is met
While Loop
For Loops
i terminal counts iterations Run according to input N of count terminal
For Loop
Both the While and For Loops are located on the FunctionsStructures palette. The For Loop differs from the While Loop in that the For Loop executes a set number of times. A While Loop stops executing the subdiagram only if the value at the conditional terminal exists. While Loops Similar to a Do Loop or a Repeat-Until Loop in text-based programming languages, a While Loop, shown at the top right, executes a subdiagram until a condition is met. The While Loop executes the sub diagram until the conditional terminal, an input terminal, receives a specific Boolean value. The default behavior and appearance of the conditional terminal is Stop If True. When a conditional terminal is Stop If True, the While Loop executes its subdiagram until the conditional terminal receives a TRUE value. The iteration terminal (an output terminal), shown at left, contains the number of completed iterations. The iteration count always starts at zero. During the first iteration, the iteration terminal returns 0. For Loops A For Loop, shown above, executes a subdiagram a set number of times. The value in the count terminal (an input terminal) represented by the N, indicates how many times to repeat the subdiagram. The iteration terminal (an output terminal), shown at left, contains the number of completed iterations. The iteration count always starts at zero. During the first iteration, the iteration terminal returns 0.
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Drawing a Loop
2. Enclose code to be repeated 1. Select the structure
3. Drop or drag additional nodes and then wire
Place loops in your diagram by selecting them from the Structures palette of the Functions palette: When selected, the mouse cursor becomes a special pointer that you use to enclose the section of code you want to repeat. Click the mouse button to define the top-left corner, click the mouse button again at the bottom-right corner, and the While Loop boundary is created around the selected code. Drag or drop additional nodes in the While Loop if needed.
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3 Types of Functions (from the Functions Palette)

Express VIs: interactive VIs with configurable dialog page (blue border)
Standard VIs: modularized VIs customized by wiring (customizable) Functions: fundamental operating elements of LabVIEW; no front panel or block diagram (yellow)
LabVIEW 7.0 introduced a new type of subVI called Express VIs. These are interactive VIs that have a configuration dialog box that allows the user to customize the functionality of the Express VI. LabVIEW then generates a subVI based on these settings. SubVIs are VIs (consisting of a front panel and a block diagram) that are used within another VI. Functions are the building blocks of all VIs. Functions do not have a front panel or a block diagram.
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What Types of Functions are Available?

Input and Output
Signal and Data Simulation Acquire and Generate Real Signals with DAQ Instrument I/O Assistant (Serial & GPIB) ActiveX for communication with other programs Signal Processing Statistics Advanced Math and Formulas Continuous Time Solver
Express Functions Palette
Analysis
Storage
File I/O
LabVIEW includes several hundreds of pre-built functions that help you to acquire, analyze, and present data. You would generally use these functions as outlined on the slide above. LabVIEW Toolkits Additional toolkits are available for adding domain specific functionality to LabVIEW. These toolkits include:
Application Deployment and Targeting Modules * LabVIEW PDA Module * LabVIEW Real-Time Module * LabVIEW FPGA Module * LabVIEW Vision Development Module Embedded System Deployment * DSP Test Integration Toolkit * Embedded Test Integration Toolkit * Digital Filter Design Toolkit * LabVIEW FPGA Module Signal Processing and Analysis * Sound and Vibration Toolkit * Advanced Signal Processing Toolkit * Modulation Toolkit * Spectral Measurements Toolkit * Order Analysis Toolkit * Digital Filter Design Toolkit Software Engineering and Optimization Tools * Execution Trace Toolkit for LabVIEW Real-Time * Express VI Development Toolkit * State Diagram Toolkit * VI Analyzer Toolkit Control Design and Simulation * Control Design and Simulation Bundle * LabVIEW Real-Time Module * System Identification Toolkit * Control Design Toolkit * LabVIEW Simulation Module * State Diagram Toolkit Image Processing and Acquisition * LabVIEW Vision Development Module * NI Vision Builder for Automated Inspection * NI-IMAQ for IEEE 1394
http://www.ni.com/toolkits/
Searching for Controls, VIs, and Functions

Palettes are filled with hundreds of VIs Press the search button to index the all VIs for text searching Click and drag an item from the search window to the block diagram Double-click an item to open the owning palette
Use the buttons on top of the palette windows to navigate, search, and edit the palettes. You can search for controls, VIs, and functions that either contain certain words or start with certain words. Double clicking a search result opens the palette that contains the search result. You also can click and drag the name of the control, VI, or function directly to the front panel or block diagram.
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Create SubVI
Enclose area to be converted into a subVI. Select EditCreate SubVI from the Edit Menu.
Creating SubVIs After you build a VI, you can use it in another VI. A VI called from the block diagram of another VI is called a subVI. You can reuse a subVI in other VIs. To create a subVI, you need to build a connector pane and create an icon. A subVI node corresponds to a subroutine call in text-based programming languages. A block diagram that contains several identical subVI nodes calls the same subVI several times. The subVI controls and indicators receive data from and return data to the block diagram of the calling VI. Click the Select a VI icon or text on the Functions palette, navigate to and doubleclick a VI, and place the VI on a block diagram to create a subVI call to that VI. A subVI input and output terminals and the icon can be easily customized. Follow the instructions below to quickly create a subVI. Creating SubVIs from Sections of a VI Convert a section of a VI into a subVI by using the Positioning tool to select the section of the block diagram you want to reuse and selecting EditCreate SubVI. An icon for the new subVI replaces the selected section of the block diagram. LabVIEW creates controls and indicators for the new subVI, automatically configures the connector pane based on the number of control and indicator terminals you selected, and wires the subVI to the existing wires. See HelpSearch the LabVIEW HelpSubVIs for more information.
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LabVIEW Functions and SubVIs operate like Functions in other languages

Function Pseudo Code
function average (in1, in2, out) { out = (in1 + in2)/2.0; }
Calling Program Pseudo Code

main { average (in1, in2, pointavg) }
SubVI Block Diagram
Calling VI Block Diagram
A subVI node corresponds to a subroutine call in text-based programming languages. The node is not the subVI itself, just as a subroutine call statement in a program is not the subroutine itself. A block diagram that contains several identical subVI nodes calls the same subVI several times. The modular approach makes applications easier to debug and maintain. The functionality of the subVI does not matter for this example. The important point is the passing of two numeric inputs and one numeric output.
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Exercise 3.1 Analysis (Track A, B, & C) Create a VI that produces a sine wave with a specified frequency and displays the data on a Waveform Chart until stopped by the user. 1. Open a blank VI from the Getting Started screen. 2. Place a chart on the front panel. Right-click to open the controls palette and select ControlsModernGraphWaveform Chart. 3. Place a dial control on the front panel. From the controls palette, select ControlsModern NumericDial. Notice that when you first place the control on the front panel, the label text is highlighted. While this text is highlighted, type Frequency In to give a name to this control. 4. Go to the block diagram (<Ctrl+E>) and place a while loop down. Right-click to open the functions palette and select ExpressExecution ControlWhile Loop. Click and drag on the block diagram to make the while loop the correct size. Select the waveform chart and dial and drag them inside the while loop if they are not already. Notice that a stop button is already connected to the conditional terminal of the while loop.
5. Place the Simulate Signal Express VI on the block diagram. From the functions palette, select ExpressSignal AnalysisSimulate Signal and place it on the block diagram inside the while loop. In the configuration window under Timing, choose Simulate acquisition timing. Click OK.
6. Place a Tone Measurements Express VI on the block diagram (ExpressSignal AnalysisTone Measurements). In the configuration window, choose Amplitude and Frequency measurements in the Single Tone Measurements section. Click OK.
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7. Make the following connections on the block diagram by hovering your mouse over the terminal so that it becomes the wiring tool and clicking once on each of the terminals you wish to connect: a. Connect the Sine output terminal of the Simulate Signal VI to the Signals input of the Tone Measurements VI. b. Connect the Sine output to the Waveform Chart. c. Create indicators for the amplitude and frequency measurements by right-clicking on each of the terminals of the Tone Measurements Express VI and selecting CreateNumeric Indicator. d. Connect the Frequency In control to the Frequency terminal of the Simulate Signal VI. 8. Return to the front panel and run the VI. Move the Frequency In dial and observe the frequency of the signal. Click the stop button once you are finished. 9. Save the VI as Exercise 3.1 Simulated.vi. 10. Close the VI. Notes When you bring up the functions palette, press the small push pin in the upper left hand corner of the palette. This will tack down the palette so that it doesnt disappear. This step will be omitted in the following exercises, but should be repeated. The solution to this exercise is printed in the back of this manual.
(End of Exercise)
Exercise 3.2 Analysis (Track A & B) Create a VI that measures the frequency and amplitude of the signal from your (simulated) DAQ device and displays the acquired signal on a waveform chart. The instructions are the same as in Exercise 3.1, but a DAQ Assistant is used in place of the Simulate Signal VI. Try to do this without following the instructions! 1. Open a blank VI. 2. Place a chart on the front panel. Right click to open the controls palette and select ControlsModernGraphWaveform Chart. 3. Go to the block diagram and place a while loop down (ExpressExecution ControlWhile Loop). 4. Place a DAQ Assistant on the block diagram (ExpressInputDAQ Assistant). Choose analog input on channel ai0 of your (simulated) device and click Finish. On the task timing tab, choose continuous for the acquisition mode. If you are using the USB-6009, change the Input Range to -2 to 2 and the number of Samples to Read to 100. 5. Place the Filter Express VI to the right of the DAQ Assistant on the block diagram. From the functions palette, select ExpressSignal AnalysisFilter and place it on the block diagram inside the while loop. In the configuration window under Filtering Type, choose Highpass. Under Cutoff Frequency, use a value of 300 Hz. Click OK. 6. Connect the Data output terminal of the DAQ Assistant VI to the Signal input of the Filter VI. 7. Connect the Filtered Signal terminal on the Filter VI to the Waveform Chart. 8. Place a Tone Measurements Express VI on the block diagram (ExpressSignal AnalysisTone). In the configuration window, choose Amplitude and Frequency measurements in the Single Tone Measurements section. 9. Create indicators for the amplitude and frequency measurements by right clicking on each of the terminals of the Tone Measurements Express VI and selecting CreateNumeric Indicator. 10. Connect the output of the Filter VI to the Signals input of the Tone Measurements Express VI. 11. Return to the front panel and run the VI. Observe your acquired signal and its frequency and amplitude. Hum or whistle into the microphone if you have a USB6009 and observe the amplitude and frequency that you are producing. 12. Save the VI as Exercise 3.2 - Data.vi. 13. Close the VI. Note: The solution to this exercise is printed in the back of this manual.
(End of Exercise)
Exercise 3.2 Analysis (Track C) Create a VI that measures the frequency and amplitude of the signal from your sound card and displays the acquired signal on a waveform chart. The instructions are the same as in Exercise 3.1, but the Sound Signal VI is used in place of the Simulate Signal VI. Try to do this without following the instructions! 1. Open a blank VI. 2. Go to the block diagram and place a While Loop down (ExpressExecution ControlWhile Loop). 3. Place the Acquire Sound Express VI on the block diagram (ExpressInput Acquire Sound). 4. Place a Filter Express VI on the block diagram. In the configuration window choose a highpass filter and a cutoff frequency of 300 Hz. 5. Place a Tone Measurements Express VI on the block diagram (ExpressSignal AnalysisTone). In the configuration window, choose Amplitude and Frequency measurements in the Single Tone Measurements section. 6. Create indicators for the amplitude and frequency measurements by right-clicking on each of the terminals of the Tone Measurements Express VI and selecting CreateNumeric Indicator. 7. Connect the Data terminal of the Acquire Sound Express VI to the Signal input of the Filter VI. 8. Connect the Filtered Signal terminal of the Filter VI to the Signals input of the Tone Measurements VI. 9. Create a graph indicator for the Filtered Signal by right-clicking on the Filtered Signal terminal and selecting CreateGraph Indicator. 10. Return to the front panel and run the VI. Observe the signal from your sound card and its amplitude and frequency. Hum or whistle into the microphone and observe the amplitude and frequency you are producing. 11. Save the VI as Exercise 3.2-Data.vi. Close the VI. Note: The solution to this exercise is printed in the back of this manual.
(End of Exercise)
How Do I Make Decisions in LabVIEW?

1. Case Structures
2. Select
(a)
(b)
(c)
Case Structure The Case Structure has one or more subdiagrams, or cases, exactly one of which executes when the structure executes. The value wired to the selector terminal determines which case to execute and can be boolean, string, integer, or enumerated type. Right-click the structure border to add or delete cases. Use the Labeling tool to enter value(s) in the case selector label and configure the value(s) handled by each case. It is found at FunctionsProgrammingStructuresCase Structure. Select Returns the value wired to the t input or f input, depending on the value of s. If s is TRUE, this function returns the value wired to t. If s is FALSE, this function returns the value wired to f. The connector pane displays the default data types for this polymorphic function. It is found at FunctionsProgramming ComparisonSelect. Example a: Boolean input: Simple if-then case. If the Boolean input is TRUE, the true case will execute; otherwise the FALSE case will execute. Example b: Numeric input. The input value determines which box to execute. If out of range of the cases, LabVIEW will choose the default case. Example c: When the Boolean passes a TRUE value to the Select VI, the value 5 is passed to the indicator. When the Boolean passes a FALSE value to the Select VI, 0 is passed to the indicator.
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File I/O
File I/O passing data to and from files Files can be binary, text, or spreadsheet Write/Read LabVIEW Measurements file (*.lvm) Writing to LVM file Reading from LVM file
Use LabVIEW measurement data files to save data that the Write Measurement File Express VI generates. The LabVIEW data file is a tab-delimited text file you can open with a spreadsheet application or a text-editing application. In addition to the data an Express VI generates, the .lvm file includes information about the data, such as the date and time the data was generated. File I/O operations pass data from memory to and from files. In LabVIEW, you can use File I/O functions to: Open and close data files Read data from and write data to files Read from and write to spreadsheet-formatted files Move and rename files and directories Change file characteristics Create, modify, and read a configuration file Write to or read from LabVIEW Measurements files.
In the next example we will examine how to write to or read from LabVIEW Measurements files (*.lvm files).
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Exercise 3.3 Decision Making and Saving Data (Track A, B, & C) Create a VI that allows you to save your data to file if the frequency of your data goes below a user-controlled limit. 1. Open Exercise 3.2 Data.vi. 2. Go to FileSave As and save it as Exercise 3.3 Decision Making and Saving Data. In the Save As dialog box, make sure substitute copy for original is selected and click Continue. 3. Add a case structure to the block diagram inside the while loop (FunctionsProgrammingStructuresCase Structure). 4. Inside the true case of the case structure, add a Write to Measurement File Express VI (FunctionsProgrammingFile I/OWrite to Measurement File).
a. In the configuration window that opens, choose Save to series of files (multiple files). Note the default location your file will be saved to and change it if you wish. b. Click Settings and choose Use next available file name under the Existing Files heading. c. Under File Termination choose to start a new file after 10 segments. Click OK twice. 5. Add code so that if the frequency computed from the Tone Measurements Express VI goes below a user-controlled limit, the data will be saved to file. Hint: Go to FunctionsProgrammingComparisonLess? 6. Remember to connect your data from the DAQ Assistant or Acquire Sound Express VI to the Signals input of the Write to Measurement File VI. If you need help, refer to the solution to this exercise. 7. Go to the front panel and run your VI. Vary your frequency limit and then stop the VI. 8. Navigate to My DocumentsLabVIEW Data and open one of the files that was saved there. Examine the file structure and check to verify that 10 segments are in the file. 9. Save your VI and close it. Note: The solution to this exercise is printed in the back of this manual.
(End of Exercise)
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File I/O Programming Model Under the hood

Open/ Create/ Replace File Read and/or Write to File Close File Check for Errors
Programming Model for the Intermediate File VIs This same programming model applies to data acqusion, instrument control, file I/O, and most other communication schemes. In most instances you will open the file or communication channel, read and write multiple times, and then the communication will be closed or ended. It is also good programming practice to check for errors at the end. Remember this programming model when you move on to more advanced programming or look inside DAQ, communication, or file I/O Express VIs. File I/O VIs and Functions Use the File I/O VIs and functions to open and close files, read from and write to files, create directories and files you specify in the path control, retrieve directory information, and write strings, numbers, arrays, and clusters to files. Use the high-level File I/O VIs located on the top row of the palette to perform common I/O operations, such as writing to or reading from various types of data. Acceptable types can include characters or lines in text files, 1D or 2D arrays of single-precision numeric values in spreadsheet text files, 1D or 2D arrays of single-precision numeric values in binary files, or 16bit signed integers in binary files. Use low-level File I/O VIs and functions located on the middle row of the palette, and the Advanced File Functions to control each file I/O operation individually. Use the principal low-level functions to create or open, write data to, read data from, and close a file. You also can use low-level functions to create directories; move, copy, or delete files; list directory contents; change file characteristics; or manipulate paths. Refer to the NI Developer Zone for more information about choosing a file format.
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Section III Presenting your Results

A. Displaying Data on the Front Panel
Controls and Indicators Graphs and Charts Loop Timing
B. Signal Processing
MathScript Arrays Clusters Waveforms
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What Types of Controls and Indicators are Available?

Numeric Data
Number input and display Analog Sliders, Dials, and Gauges
Boolean Data
Buttons and LEDs
Express Controls Palette
Array & Matrix Data

Numeric Display Chart Graph XY Graph Intensity Graph 3D graph: point, surface, and model
Decorations
Tab Control Arrows
Other
Strings and text boxes Picture/Image Display ActiveX Controls
Controls and Indicators are Front Panel items that allow the user to interact with your program to both provide input and display results. You can access Controls and Indicators by right-clicking the front panel. In addition, you will get additional controls and indicators when you install toolkits and modules. For example, when you install the Control Design tools, you will get specialized plots such as Bode and Nyquist plots that are not available by default.
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Charts Add 1 data point at a time with history

Waveform chart special numeric indicator that can display a history of values Chart updates with each individual point it receives
FunctionsExpressGraph IndicatorsChart
The waveform chart is a special numeric indicator that displays one or more plots. The waveform chart is located on the ControlsModernGraph palette. Waveform charts can display single or multiple plots. The following front panel shows an example of a multi-plot waveform chart. You can change the min and max values of either the x or y axis by double clicking on the value with the labeling tool and typing the new value. Similarly, you can change the label of the axis. You can also right click the plot legend and change the style, shape, and color of the trace that is displayed on the chart.
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Graphs Display many data points at once

Waveform graph special numeric indicator that displays an array of data Graph updates after all points have been collected May be used in a loop if VI collects buffers of data
FunctionsExpressGraph IndicatorsGraph
Graphs are very powerful indicators in LabVIEW. The can are highly customizable, and can be used to concisely display a great deal of information. The properties page of the graph allows you to display settings for plot types, scale and cursor options, and many other features of the graph. To open the properties page, rightclick the graph on the front panel and choose Properties. Graphs also allow you to create technical paper quality graphics with the export simplified image function. Right-click the graph, select Data OperationsExport Simplified Image
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Building Arrays with Loops (Auto-Indexing)

Loops can accumulate arrays at their boundaries with auto-indexing For Loops auto-index by default While Loops output only the final value by default Right-click tunnel and enable/disable autoindexing
Auto-Indexing Enabled
Wire becomes thicker
1D Array 012345
Auto-Indexing Disabled
Wire remains the same size
Only one value (last iteration) is passed out of the loop
For Loops and While Loops can index and accumulate arrays at their boundaries. This is known as auto-indexing. The indexing point on the boundary is called a tunnel. The For Loop default is auto-indexing enabled. The While Loop default is auto-indexing disabled. Examples: Enable auto-indexing to collect values within the loop and build the array. All values are placed in array upon exiting loop. Disable auto-indexing if you are interested only in the final value.
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Creating an Array (Step 1 of 2)

From the ControlsModernArray, Matrix, and Cluster subpalette, select the Array icon.
Drop it on the Front Panel.
To create an array control or indicator as shown, select an array on the ControlsModernArray, Matrix, and Cluster palette, place it on the front panel, and drag a control or indicator into the array shell. If you attempt to drag an invalid control or indicator such as an XY graph into the array shell, you are unable to drop the control or indicator in the array shell. You must insert an object in the array shell before you use the array on the block diagram. Otherwise, the array terminal appears black with an empty bracket.
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Create an Array (Step 2 of 2)

1. Place an Array Shell. 2. Insert datatype into the shell (i.e. Numeric Control).
To add dimensions to an array one at a time, right-click the index display and select Add Dimension from the shortcut menu. You also can use the Positioning tool to resize the index display until you have as many dimensions as you want. 1D Array Viewing a Single Element:
1D Array Viewing Multiple Elements:
2D Array Viewing a Single Element:
2D Array Viewing Multiple Elements:
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How Do I Time a Loop?

1. Loop Time Delay
Configure the Time Delay Express VI for seconds to wait each iteration of the loop (works on For and While loops).
2. Timed Loops
Configure special timed While loop for desired dt.
Time Delay
Timed Loop
Time Delay The Time Delay Express VI delays execution by a specified number of seconds. Following the rules of Data Flow Programming, the while loop will not iterate until all tasks inside of it are complete, thus delaying each iteration of the loop. Timed Loops Executes each iteration of the loop at the period you specify. Use the Timed Loop when you want to develop VIs with multi-rate timing capabilities, precise timing, feedback on loop execution, timing characteristics that change dynamically, or several levels of execution priority. Double-click the Input Node or right-click the Input Node and select Configure Timed Loop from the shortcut menu to display the Loop Configuration dialog box, where you can configure the Timed Loop. The values you enter in the Loop Configuration dialog box appear as options in the Input Node.
Wait Until Next ms Multiple Waits until the value of the millisecond timer becomes a multiple of the specified millisecond multiple. Use this function to synchronize activities. You can call this function in a loop to control the loop execution rate. However, it is possible that the first loop period might be short. This function makes asynchronous system calls, but the nodes themselves function synchronously. Therefore, it does not complete execution until the specified time has elapsed. FunctionsProgrammingTimingWait Until Next ms Multiple
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Control & Indicator Properties

Properties are characteristics or qualities about an object Properties can be found by right clicking on a Control or Indicator
Properties Include:
Size Color Plot Style Plot color
Features include:
Cursors Scaling
Properties are all the qualities of a front panel object. With properties, you can set or read such characteristics as foreground and background color, data formatting and precision, visibility, descriptive text, size and location on the front panel, and so on.
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Exercise 4.1 Manual Analysis (Track A, B, & C) Create a VI that displays simulated data on a waveform graph and measures the frequency and amplitude of that data. Use cursors on the graph to verify the frequency and amplitude measurements. 1. Open Exercise 3.1 Simulated.vi. 2. Save the VI as Exercise 4.1 Manual Analysis.vi. 3. Go to the block diagram and remove the While Loop. Right-click the edge of the loop and choose Remove While Loop so that the code inside the loop does not get deleted. 4. Delete the stop button. 5. On the front panel, replace the waveform chart with a waveform graph. Right-click the chart and select ReplaceModernGraphWaveform Graph. 6. Make the cursor legend viewable on the graph. Right-click on the graph and select Visible ItemsCursor Legend. 7. Change the maximum value of the Frequency In dial to 100. Double-click on the maximum value and type 100 once the text is highlighted. 8. Set a default value for the Frequency In dial by setting the dial to the value you would like, right-clicking the dial, and selecting Data OperationsMake Current Value Default. 9. Run the VI and observe the signal on the waveform graph. If you cannot see the signal, you may need to turn on auto-scaling for the x-axis. Right-click on the graph and select X ScaleAutoScale X. 10. Change the frequency of the signal so you can see a few periods on the graph. 11. Manually measure the frequency and amplitude of the signal on the graph using cursors. To make the cursors display on the graph, click on one of the three buttons in the cursor legend. Once the cursors are displayed, you can drag them around on the graph and their coordinates will be displayed in the cursor legend.
12. Remember that the frequency of a signal is the reciprocal of its period (f = 1/T). Does your measurement match the frequency and amplitude indicators from the Tone Measurements VI? 13. Save your VI and close it. Note: The solution to this exercise is printed in the back of this manual.
(End of Exercise)
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Textual Math in LabVIEW

Integrate existing scripts with LabVIEW for faster development Interactive, easy-to-use, hands-on learning environment Develop algorithms, explore mathematical concepts, and analyze results using a single environment Freedom to choose the most effective syntax, whether graphical or textual within one VI
Supported Math Tools: MathScript script node Mathematica software Maple software MathSoft software MATLAB software Xmath software
MATLAB is a registered trademark of The MathWorks, Inc.
Overview With the release of National Instruments LabVIEW 8, you have new freedom to choose the most effective syntax for technical computing, whether you are developing algorithms, exploring DSP concepts, or analyzing results. You can instrument your scripts and develop algorithms on the block diagram by interacting with popular third-party math tools such as The MathWorks Inc. MATLAB software, Mathematica, Maple, Mathcad, IDL and Xmath. Use of these math tools with LabVIEW is achieved in a variety of ways depending on the vendor as listed below: Native LabVIEW textual math node: MathScript node, Formula node Communication with vendor software through LabVIEW node: Xmath node, MATLAB script node, Maple* node, IDL* node Communication with vendor software through VI Server: Mathematica* VIs, and Mathcad* VIs In LabVIEW 8, you can combine the intuitive LabVIEW graphical dataflow programming with MathScript, a math-oriented textual programming language that is generally compatible with popular m-file script language.
Math Node
*LabVIEW toolkit specific to the math tool must be installed.
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Math with the MathScript Node

Implement equations and algorithms textually Input and Output variables created at the border Generally compatible with popular m-file script language Terminate statements with a semicolon to disable immediate output
(FunctionsProgramming StructuresMathScript)
Prototype your equations in the interactive MathScript Window.
The MathScript Node enhances LabVIEW by adding a native text-based language for mathematical algorithm implementation in the graphical programming environment. M-file scripts youve written and saved from the MathScript window can be opened and used in the MathScript node. M-file scripts you created in other math software will generally run as well. The MathScript allows you to pick the syntax you are most comfortable with to solve the problem. Equations can be instrumented with the MathScript Node for parameter exploration, simulation, or deployment in a final application. The MathScript Node: Located in the ProgrammingStructures subpalette. Resizable box for entering textual computations directly into block diagrams. To add variables, right-click and choose Add Input or Add Output. Name variables as they are used in formula. (Names are case sensitive.) The data type of the output can be changed by right-clicking the input or output node. Statements should be terminated with a semicolon to suppress output. Ability to import & export m-files by right-clicking on the node.
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The Interactive MathScript Window

Rapidly develop and test algorithms Share Scripts and Variables with the Node View /Modify Variable content in 1D, 2D, and 3D Output
Window
Variable Workspace
View/Modify Variable Contents
User Commands
m-file Script
(LabVIEWToolsMathScript Window)
The MathScript Window provides an interactive environment where equations can be prototyped and calculations can be made. The MathScript Window and Node share a common syntax and global variables making the move from prototype to implementation seamless. The data preview pane provides a convenient way to view variable data as numbers, graphically, or audibly (with soundcard support). Help for MathScript Help for the environment can be accessed using the Mathscript Interactive Environment Window. Type Help in the command window for an introduction to MathScript help. Help followed by a function will display help specific to that function. Features of the interactive MathScript Window: Prototype equations and formulas through the command Window Easily access function help by typing Help <function> in the Command Window Select a variable to display its data in the Preview Pane and even listen to the result Write, Save, Load, and Run m-files using the Script tab Share data between the MathScript Node in LabVIEW and the MathScript Window using Global Variables Advanced plotting features and image export features
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Exercise 4.2 MathScript (Track A, B, & C) Create a VI that uses the MathScript Node to alter your simulated signal and graph it. Use the Interactive MathScript Window to view and alter the data and then load the script you have created back into the MathScript Node. 1. Open Exercise 4.1 Manual Analysis.vi. 2. Save the VI as Exercise 4.2 MathScript.vi. 3. Go to the block diagram and delete the wire connecting the Simulate Signal VI to the Waveform Graph. 4. Place down a MathScript Node (ProgrammingStructuresMathScript Node). 5. Right-click on the left border of the MathScript Node and select Add Input. Name this input In by typing while the input node is highlighted black. 6. Right-click on the right border of the MathScript Node and select Add Output. Name this output Out. 7. Convert the Dynamic Data Type output of the Simulate Signals VI to a 1D Array of Scalars to input to the MathScript Node. Place a Convert from Dynamic Data Express VI on the block diagram (ExpressSignal ManipulationConvert from Dynamic Data). By default, the VI is configured correctly so click OK in the configuration window. 8. Wire the Sine output of the Simulate Signal VI to the Dynamic Data input of the Convert from Dynamic Data VI. 9. Wire the Array output of the Convert from Dynamic Data VI to the In node on the MathScript Node. 10. In order to use the data from the Simulate Signal VI in the Interactive MathScript Window it is necessary to declare the input variable as a global variable. Inside the MathScript Node type global In;. 11. Return to the front panel and increase the frequency to be between 50 and 100. Run the VI. 12. Open the Interactive MathScript Window (ToolsMathScript Window). 13. In the MathScript Window, the Command Window can be used to enter in the command that you wish to compute. In the Command Window, type global In and press Enter. This will allow you to see the data passed to the variable In on the MathScript Node.
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14. Notice that all declared variables in the script along with their dimensions and type are listed on the Variables tab. To display the graphed data, click once on the variable In and change the drop down menu from Numeric to Graph.
15. Use the graph palette to zoom in on your data.
16. Right-click on Cursor 1 and choose Bring to Center. What does this do? 17. Drag the cursor around. The cursor will not move if the zoom option is selected. 18. Right-click on the graph and choose Undock Window. What does this do? Close this new window when you are finished.
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19. Multiply the data by a decreasing exponential function. Follow these steps: a. Make a 100 element array of data that constitutes a ramp function going from 0.01 to 5 by typing Array = [0.01:0.05:5]; in the Command Window and pressing Enter. What type of variable is Array? b. Make an array containing a decreasing exponential. Type Exp = 5*exp(-Array); and press Enter. c. Now multiply the Exp and In arrays element by element by typing Out = In.*Exp; and pressing Enter. d. Look at the graph of the variable Out. 20. Go to the History tab and use Ctrl-click to choose the 4 commands you just entered. Copy those commands using <Ctrl-C>. 21. On the Script tab, paste the commands into the Script Editor using <Ctrl-V>. 22. Save your script by clicking Save at the bottom of the window. Save it as myscript.txt 23. Close the MathScript Window. 24. Return to the block diagram of Exercise 4.2 MathScript. Load the script you just made by right-clicking on the MathScript Node border and selecting Import Navigate to myscript.txt, select it, and click OK. 25. Right-click on the variable Out and select Choose Data Type1D-ArrayDBL 1D. Output data types must be set manually on the MathScript Node.
26. Wire Out to the Waveform Graph. 27. Return to the front panel and run the VI. Does the data look like you expect? 25. Save and close your VI. Note: The solution to this exercise is printed in the back of this manual.
(End of Exercise)
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Review of Data Types Found in LabVIEW
LabVIEW utilizes many common datatypes. These Datatypes include: Boolean, Numeric, Arrays, Strings, Clusters, and more. The color and symbol of each terminal indicate the data type of the control or indicator. Control terminals have a thicker border than indicator terminals. Also, arrows appear on front panel terminals to indicate whether the terminal is a control or an indicator. An arrow appears on the right if the terminal is a control, and an arrow appears on the left if the terminal is an indicator. Definitions Array: Arrays group data elements of the same type. An array consists of elements and dimensions. Elements are the data that make up the array. A dimension is the length, height, or depth of an array. An array can have one or more dimensions and as many as (231) 1 elements per dimension, memory permitting. Cluster: Clusters group data elements of mixed types, such as a bundle of wires in a telephone cable, where each wire in the cable represents a different element of the cluster.
See HelpSearch the LabVIEW Help for more information. The LabVIEW User Manual on ni.com provides additional reference for data types found in LabVIEW.
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Exercise 5 Apply What You Have Learned (Track A, B, & C) In this exercise, you will create a VI that uses what you have learned. Design a VI that does the following: 1. Acquire data from your device and graph it (either your DAQ device, your simulated device, or your sound card). 2. Filter that data using the Filter Express VI (FunctionsExpressSignal AnalysisFilter). There should be a front panel control for a user configurable cutoff frequency.
3. Take a Fast Fourier Transform to get the frequency information from the filtered data and graph the result. Use the Spectral Measurements Express VI (FunctionsExpressSignal AnalysisSpectral).
4. Find the dominant frequency of the filtered data using the Tone Measurements Express VI. 5. Compare that frequency to a user inputted limit. If the frequency is over that limit, light up an LED. If you have a USB-6009, light up the LED on your hardware using the DAQ Assistant. You will need to invert the digital line for the LED to light up when over the limit. You can specify this in the configuration window of the DAQ Assistant or with a not boolean function. 6. If you get stuck, open up the solution or view it at the end of this manual.
(End of Exercise)
Section IV Advanced Data Flow Topics (optional)

A. Additional Data types
Cluster
B. Data Flow Constructs

Shift Register Local Variables
C. Large Application Development

Navigator Window LabVIEW Projects
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Introduction to Clusters
Data structure that groups data together Data may be of different types Analogous to struct in C Elements must be either all controls or all indicators Thought of as wires bundled into a cable Order is important
Clusters group like or unlike components together. They are equivalent to a record in Pascal or a struct in C. Cluster components may be of different data types. Examples: Error informationGrouping a Boolean error flag, a numeric error code, and an error source string to specify the exact error. User informationGrouping a string indicating a users name and an ID number specifying their security code.
All elements of a cluster must be either controls or indicators. You cannot have a string control and a Boolean indicator. Clusters can be thought of as grouping individual wires (data objects) together into a cable (cluster).
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Creating a Cluster
1. Select a Cluster shell. 2. Place objects inside the shell. ControlsModernArray, Matrix & Cluster
Cluster front panel object can be created by choosing Cluster from the ControlsModernArray, Matrix & Cluster palette. This option gives you a shell (similar to the array shell when creating arrays). You can size the cluster shell when you drop it. Right-click inside the shell and add objects of any type. Note: You can even have a cluster inside of a cluster. The cluster becomes a control or an indicator cluster based on the first object you place inside the cluster. You can also create a cluster constant on the block diagram by choosing Cluster Constant from the Cluster palette. This gives you an empty cluster shell. You can size the cluster when you drop it. Put other constants inside the shell. Note: You cannot place terminals for front panel objects in a cluster constant on the block diagram, nor can you place special constants like the Tab or Empty String constant within a block diagram cluster shell.
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Cluster Functions
In the Cluster & Variant subpalette of the Programming palette Can also be accessed by right-clicking the cluster terminal
(Terminal labels reflect data type) Bundle
Bundle By Name
The terms Bundle and Cluster are closely related in LabVIEW. Example: You use a Bundle Function to create a Cluster. You use an Unbundle function to extract the parts of a cluster. Bundle functionForms a cluster containing the given objects (explain the example). Bundle by Name functionUpdates specific cluster object values (the object must have an owned label). Note: You must have an existing cluster wired into the middle terminal of the function to use Bundle By Name.
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Using Arrays and Clusters with Graphs

The Waveform Datatype contains 3 pieces of data: t0 = Start Time dt = Time between Samples Y = Array of Y magnitudes Two ways to create a Waveform Cluster:
Build Waveform (absolute time)
Cluster (relative time)
The waveform data type carries the data, start time, and t of a waveform. You can create waveforms using the Build Waveform function. Many of the VIs and functions you use to acquire or analyze waveforms accept and return the waveform data type by default. When you wire a waveform data type to a waveform graph or chart, the graph or chart automatically plots a waveform based on the data, start time, and x of the waveform. When you wire an array of waveform data types to a waveform graph or chart, the graph or chart automatically plots all the waveforms. Build Waveform Builds a waveform or modifies an existing waveform with the start time represented as an absolute TimeStamp. Time Stamps are accurate to real-world time & date and are very useful for real-world data recording. Bundle Builds a waveform or modifies an existing waveform with a relative time stamp. The input to t0 is a DBL. Building waveforms using the bundle allows data to be plotted on the negative X (time) axis.
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Shift Register Access Previous Loop Data

Available at left or right border of loop structures Right-click the border and select Add Shift Register Right terminal stores data on completion of iteration Left terminal provides stored data at beginning of next iteration
Initial Value
Value 3
Before Loop Begins
First Iteration
Second Iteration
Last Iteration
Shift registers transfer data from one iteration to the next: Right-click on the left or right side of a For Loop or a While Loop and select Add Shift Register. The right terminal stores data at the end of an iteration. Data appears at the left terminal at the start of the next iteration. A shift register adapts to any data type wired into it. An input of 0 would result in an output of 5 the first iteration, 10 the second iteration and 15 the third iteration. Said another way, shift registers are used to retain values from one iteration to the next. They are valuable for many applications that have memory or feedback between states. The feedback node is another representation of the same concept. (pictured below) Both programs pictured behave the same.
See HelpSearch the LabVIEW Help for more information.
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Local Variables
Local Variables allow data to be passed between parallel loops. A single control or indicator can be read or written to from more than one location in the program Local Variables break the dataflow paradigm and should be used sparingly
Sometimes you may need to access a front panel object from more than one place on the block diagram or to pass data between structures that cannot be connected by a wire. To accomplish these tasks, you would use a local variable. Local variables are located in the Structures subpalette of the Functions palette. When you place a local variable on the diagram, it contains by default the name (owned label) of the first object you placed on the front panel. You use a local variable by first selecting the object you want to access. You can either click on the local variable with the Operating tool and select the object (by owned label) you want to access, or pop up on the local variable and choose the object from the Select Item menu. Next, you must decide to either read or write to the object. Right click on the local variable and choose Change To Read or Change to Write.
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LabVIEW Navigation Window
Shows the current region of view compared to entire Front Panel or Block Diagram Great for large programs
* Organize and reduce program visual size with subVIs
Select ViewShow Navigation Window to display this window. Use the window to navigate large front panels or block diagrams. Click an area of the image in the Navigation Window to display that area in the front panel or block diagram window. You also can click and drag the image in the Navigation Window to scroll through the front panel or block diagram.
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LabVIEW Project
Group and organize VIs Hardware and I/O management Manage VIs for multiple targets Build libraries and executables Manage large LabVIEW applications Enable version tracking and management
(LabVIEWProjectNew)
LabVIEW Project Use projects to group together LabVIEW files and non-LabVIEW files, create build specifications, and deploy or download files to targets. A target is a device or machine on which a VI runs. When you save a project, LabVIEW creates a project file (.lvproj), which includes configuration information, build information, deployment information, references to files in the project, and so on. You must use a project to build stand-alone applications and shared libraries. You also must use a project to work with an RT, FPGA, or PDA target. Refer to the specific module documentation for more information about using projects with the LabVIEW Real-Time, FPGA, and PDA Modules. Project-style LabVIEW Plug and Play instrument drivers use the project and project library features in LabVIEW 8.0. You can use project-style drivers in the same way as previous LabVIEW Plug and Play drivers. Project Explorer Window Use the Project Explorer window to create and edit projects. Select FileNew Project to display the Project Explorer window. You also can select ProjectNew Project or select FileNew and then select Empty Project in the New dialog box to display the Project Explorer window.
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Additional Resources
NI Academic Web & Student Corner
http://www.ni.com/academic
Connexions: Full LabVIEW Training Course

www.cnx.rice.edu Or search for LabVIEW basics
LabVIEW Certification
LabVIEW Fundamentals Exam (free on www.ni.com/academic) Certified LabVIEW Associate Developer Exam (industry recognized certification )
Get your own copy of LabVIEW Student Edition

www.ni.com/academic
r d fo date W 8 Up VIE Lab
By Robert H Bishop. Published by Prentice Hall.
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The LabVIEW Certification Program

Architect
Mastery of LabVIEW Expert in large application development Skilled in leading project teams Certified LabVIEW Architect
Developer
Advanced LabVIEW knowledge and application development experience Project management skills Certified LabVIEW Developer
Associate Developer
Proficiency in navigating LabVIEW environment Some application development experience Certified LabVIEW Associate Developer
Fundamentals Exam
Pre-Certification Skills Test
Free On-Line Fundamentals Exam
Today, more and more companies and hiring managers are requesting for LabVIEW expertise in their job interviews. The LabVIEW Certification Program is built on a series of professional exams. LabVIEW Certifications are used to validate LabVIEW expertise and skills for employment opportunities and for project bids. The Certified LabVIEW Associate Developer is the first-step for LabVIEW certification and it demonstrates a strong foundation in using LabVIEW and the LabVIEW environment. As students, your Certified LabVIEW Associate Developer certification differentiates your LabVIEW skill for employment opportunities and also gets you recognition for your LabVIEW expertise. The CLAD is a 1-hour multiple choice exam conducted at Pearson VUE testing centers around the country. The exam covers multiple topics on the LabVIEW environment including dataflow concepts, programming structures, Advanced file I/O techniques, Modular programming practices, VI object properties and control references. Thinking about getting your CLAD certification? Take the free online LabVIEW Fundamentals Exam as a sample test. The Certified LabVIEW Developer and Architect are professional certifications that validate Advanced LabVIEW knowledge and application development experience. Additionally, the Architect certification also demonstrates skills in leading project teams and large application development experience. These exams are 4-hour practical exams conducted by National Instruments.
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Electronics Workbench and Multisim

Worlds most popular software for learning electronics 180,000 industrial and academic users Products include:
Multisim: Simulation and Capture Multi-MCU: Microcontroller Simulation MultiVHDL: VHDL Simulation Ultiboard: PCB Layout Electronics CBT: Computer-based training
Low cost student editions available www.electronicsworkbench.com
Electronics Workbench products are the most widely used electronics software in electrical engineering and electronics technology departments around the globe. As the only company to design our products specifically for the education market, our software has become the teaching and learning tool of choice for thousands of educators. MULTISIM SIMULATION AND CAPTURE Multisim is an intuitive, drag-and-drop schematic capture and simulation program that allows educators and students to quickly create complete circuits containing both analog and digital components. MULTIMCU MICROCONTROLLER CO-SIMULATION MultiMCU adds microcontroller unit co-simulation capabilities to Multisim, allowing you to include an MCU, programmed in assembly code, within your SPICE (and optionally VHDL) modeled circuit. MULTIVHDL VHDL CO-SIMULATION MultiVHDL adds patented VHDL co-simulation capabilities to Multisim. It is a powerful yet easy-to-use application that is perfect for teaching students about HDL programming, or for including VHDL-programmed devices in a Multisim project. ULTIBOARD PCB LAYOUT Ultiboard allows students to gain exposure to the physical implementation and manufacturing of circuits on PCBs. Their Multisim schematic can be imported into Ultiboard with a single mouse-click. ELECTRONICS CBT COMPUTER-BASED TRAINING Electronics CBT offers a complete, standalone introductory electronics curriculum to support your lectures or to act as the centerpiece of your course delivery. E-CBT is enhanced with over 400 exercises and experiments that run directly in Multisims virtual lab environment.
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Multisim Integrated with LabVIEW

1. Create Schematic 2. Virtual Breadboard 3. Simulate
4. PCB Layout
5. Test
6. Compare
1. Multisim - Schematics Easy-to-use schematics Simply click and drag 3D animated parts Wire drag without breaking connections 2. Multisim Virtual breadboard Breadboarding techniques Synchronized with schematic Wiring report for Elvis (step 5) 3. Multisim Simulation 13.000 part library 20 virtual instruments Changes on-the-fly New microcontroller simulation Animated parts (LEDs, and 7segment displays)
4. Ultiboard PCB Layout Integrated with Multisim User-friendly interface 3D view Design rule check Built-in autorouting 5. Elvis Test Instrumentation Data acquisition Prototyping 6. LabVIEW Compare Automatically import: Multisim virtual data Elvis real data Compare ideal and real data
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Your Next Step

Take the free LabVIEW Fundamentals Exam at ni.com/academic
Your first step to become LabVIEW Certified!
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Solutions Section
Exercise 2:
Exercise 2 Track A and B:
Exercise 2 Track C:
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Exercise 3.1:
Exercise 3.1 Track A, B, and C:
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Exercise 3.2:
Note: Waveform Graphs and Charts have been used interchangeably in Exercise 3.2 and 3.3. Exercise 3.2 Track A and B:
Exercise 3.2 Track C:
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Exercise 3.3:
Exercise 3.3 Track A and B:
Exercise 3.3 Track C:
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Exercise 4.1 and 4.2:
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Exercise 5:
Exercise 5 Track A and B:
Exercise 5 Track C:
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Intro LabVIEW8

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Intro LabVIEW8

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Introduction to LabVIEW

Worldwide Technical Support and Product Information

National Instruments Corporate Headquarters

National Instruments Corporation

Introduction to LabVIEW Hands-On

Find more resources online: ni.com/academic

Introduction to LabVIEW Hands-On

National Instruments Corporation

Introduction to LabVIEW Hands-On

This course does not describe any of the following:

Introduction to LabVIEW Hands-On

The Virtual Instrumentation Approach

National Instruments Corporation

Introduction to LabVIEW Hands-On

LabVIEW Graphical Development System

Introduction to LabVIEW Hands-On

Virtual Instrumentation Applications

A single graphical development platform

National Instruments Corporation

Introduction to LabVIEW Hands-On

The NI Approach Integrated Hardware Platforms

PXI Modular Instrumentation

Distributed I/O and Embedded Control

Signal Conditioning and Switching

Unit Under Test

Introduction to LabVIEW Hands-On

Section I LabVIEW Environment

C. Components of a LabVIEW Application

National Instruments Corporation

Introduction to LabVIEW Hands-On

A. Setting Up Your Hardware

Simulated Data Acquisition Device (DAQ)

Built into most computers

Introduction to LabVIEW Hands-On

Setting-Up Your Hardware for Your Selected Track

* Laptops often have a built-in microphone (no plug-in microphone is required)

What type of device should I use?

NI USB DAQ 10200 KS/s 1216 bit x 816 12 AC/DC x x

NI PCI DAQ 250 K1.2 Ms/s 1418 bit 1680 24 AC/DC x x

844 KS/s 1216 bit x 2 2 AC

National Instruments Corporation

Introduction to LabVIEW Hands-On

Exercise 1 Testing Your Device (Track A)

Introduction to LabVIEW Hands-On

National Instruments Corporation

Introduction to LabVIEW Hands-On

Introduction to LabVIEW Hands-On

National Instruments Corporation

Introduction to LabVIEW Hands-On

Introduction to LabVIEW Hands-On

Open and Run LabVIEW

National Instruments Corporation

Introduction to LabVIEW Hands-On

LabVIEW Programs Are Called Virtual Instruments (VIs)

Block Diagram Graphical Code

Introduction to LabVIEW Hands-On

Indicator: Numeric Slide

National Instruments Corporation

Introduction to LabVIEW Hands-On

Functions (and Structures) Palette

Structure: While Loop

Introduction to LabVIEW Hands-On

National Instruments Corporation